Man Who Accidentally Threw Away 8,000 Bitcoin Hard Drive Suffers New 'Kick In The Teeth' As UK Court Dismisses His Claim

James Howells, who is infamously known for having accidentally thrown away a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin BTC/USD, has suffered a new setback in his quest to reclaim his fortune.

What Happened: A high court ruling by Judge Keyser KC has dismissed James Howells’ legal claim to recover the hard drive, citing no “reasonable grounds” for bringing the claim and “no realistic prospect” of winning it.

Howells, who had sued the Newport City Council in Wales over the case, said he was “very upset” after the ruling, saying “it’s the great British injustice system striking again.”

After trying for 12 years to recover the lost coins, the ruling felt like “a kick in the teeth,” Howells lamented.

The case stems from an incident in 2013 when Howells accidentally threw away a hard drive containing 8,000 BTC.

The hard drive was discarded in a landfill in Newport, Wales, and Howells sought permission from Newport Council to excavate the site in order to recover it.

However, the council rejected his request, and the court ruled that the council’s environmental permits prohibit excavation.

James Goudie KC, representing the council, argued that once the hard drive entered the landfill, it became the council's property.

Also Read: Bitcoin Is Suffering From A Shift In Macro Expectations, Analyst Says: Here’s What That Means

Why It Matters: At the current market price of $93,128.86, the 8,000 Bitcoins on the discarded hard drive are worth about $745.03 million.

This is a significant decrease compared to mid-December 2024, when Bitcoin's value peaked at $108,268.45.

Howells had repeatedly requested permission from the council to access the landfill site, offering a share of the Bitcoin in exchange for its recovery.

Despite his persistent efforts, the court’s ruling has put an end to his claims.

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